Car-seal.



No. 707,083. I Patented Aug. l9, I902.

J. N. BRUNNER.

GAR SEAL:

(Application filed Apr. 3, 1902.)

(No Model.)

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JOHN N. BRUNNER, OF MERRIAM PARK, MINNESOTA.

CAR -SEAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Tatent No. 707,083, dated August 19, 1902.

Application filed April 3, 1902. Serial No. 101,160. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, Joan N. BRUNNER, of Merriam Park, Ramsey county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Seals, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a seal in the manufacture of which pieces of waste or scrap sheet metal may be utilized.

A further object is to provide a seal having a socket in the formation of which no solder or similar securing means is employed, reliance being placed upon the peculiar manner of folding and interlocking the edges of the metal composing the socket to prevent tampering therewith without detectiou.

Afurther object is to provide means for securing one end of the shackle in the socket.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description.

The invention consists generally in various constructionsand combinations, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming I part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view, considerably enlarged, of a seal embodying my invention, a portion of the socket being broken away, showing the looking end of the shackle therein. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the socket. an enlarged perspective view of the shackle. Figs. 4 and 5 are details in section showing the peculiar manner of folding the edges of the sheet metal composing the socket, between which and the bottom of the socket one end of the shackle is secured.

In the drawings I have shown a rectangular socket composed of sheet metal, preferably tin; and consisting of the top 2, the side walls 3, a bottom 4, and the rear end part 5, having a lip 6, that underlaps the top 2 sufficiently far to prevent the insertion of a knife. or similar tool without damaging the socket and causing detection. The opposite end of the socket is open to receive the shackle. The

wall 3 on one side is provided with a laterally-extending flange 7, whose edge 8 is turned upwardly and inwardly and is interlocked with the hooked edge 9 of the bottom 4, that is extended at the side beyond the wall 3 and Fig. 3 is folded over the flange 7. In forming the flange 7 at the lower edge of the wall 3 a space 10 is left between it and the bottom 4 of the socket, and when the fold is made it will be impossible to separate'the edges of the metal forming it without cracking or marring the material where it is bent or folded, so that an attempt on the part of any one to tamper with the seal will be instantly detected.

, The socket will be formed over a mold, and the edges of the sheet metal being folded in the manner described will not require any other fastening means, such as solder, that is usually employed in the manufacture of sheet-metal car-seal sockets.

The shackle which I preferto employ is shown, as well as the socket, considerably enlarged in the drawings for the purpose of clearness of illustration, and consists of a narrow sheet-metal strip 11, preferably of tin, having a hook 12 at one end, provided with an inwardly-turned end 13 and with a corresponding hook 1d at the other end, having also an inwardly-turned end 15. At the end of the strip near the hook 12 I provide a narrow flange or lip 16, that is adapted to enter the space 10 when the end of the shackle is thrust into the socket. This constitutes the stop in the manufacture of the article that succeeds the formation of the socket and the stamping out of the shackle. When the flange 16 has been thrust into the socket, the folds heretofore described in the edges of the material are crimped or pinched down upon the bottom of the socket, as shown in Fig. 4:, clamping the flange 16 and securely locking the shackle within the socket. When this has been done, the seal is completed and. ready for use and in this condition will be delivered to the railroad companiesby the manufacturers.

In sealing a car the free end of the shackle will be thrust into the'staple, or hasp on the door and then pushed into the open end of the socket. The hook 14 will slide under the hook 12 and after snapping by the same and being drawn forward slightly the end 15 will interlock with the end 13 and prevent further backward movement, while the hook 12 will prevent the free end of the shackle from being withdrawn from the socket. I am aware that therein.

a shackle having double or compound hooks at its ends has been employed in car -seals heretofore, and I make no claim, broadly, to the same herein, except in combination with a peculiar form of socket which I employ and the particular means for securing the shackle The flanges employed in the manufacture of the shackle and socket can be readily stamped out of thin sheet metal, and as both of the parts are of very plain formation the use of expensive dies or tools will not be necessary. In fact, both members of the seal can be made up out of scrap pieces of tin or other thin sheet metal which would ordinarily be considered worthless.

I am aware that car-seals consisting of thin metal shackles and sockets of corresponding material have been made heretofore, and I do not, therefore, lay claim to the same broadly herein, the essential feature of myinvention consisting in the manner of folding and interlocking the edges of the sheet-metal socket and binding or crimping one end of the shackle therein.

I claim as my invention- 1. A car-seal, comprising a socket of thin sheet metal having the edges of its wall and bottom on one side folded to interlock with a space between the fold so formed and the bottom of the socket, and a shackle having hooked ends adapted to interlock, and a, lip or flange provided on one of said ends and socket having a wall 5 at one end, the opposite end being open and a flange 7 provided on a side wall and having an inwardly-turned edge 8 to interlock with a correspondinglyturned edge 9 of the bottom t, a space being provided between said flange 7 and said bottom, a shackle having hooked ends adapted to interlock, and a lip or flange provided on said shackle near one end and adapted to enter said space and be clamped therein by the crimping or pinching of said folds.

3. A car-seal, comprising a socket of comparatively thin sheet metal having its bottom and a side wall interlocked by turning the edge of the bottom over a flange on the wall and then folding the turned edge and flange toward the wall, a recess being provided between said flange and bottom, and a shackle having hooked 'ends adapted to interlock and a laterally-extending lip or flange to enter said recess and be secured therein.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of March, 1902.

JOHN N. BRUN N ER.

In presence of RICHARD PAUL, M. C. NooNAN. 

